Lady&#39;s handbag or pocketbook



' A rifl M, 1936.. H. RUBIN 2,3?,3%

LADYS HANDBAG OR POCK'ET BOOK Filed May 25, 1933 INVENTOR BY C JAM ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNETE STATES PATENT OFFIE LADYS HANDBAG OR POCKETBOOK Application May 25, 1933, Serial No. 672,842

3 Claims.

This invention relates to ladies hand bags or pocket books, and has for its object to provide a pocket book in which the contents are secure from falling out when the outer flap is closed. One objection to the pocket books now in use is that when used, and wholly or partially filled with coins, keys, vanity cases, and the like, the contents may readily pass out through the crevices between the gussets and flap cover and thus fall out and be lost. The invention overcomes this defect by means which are simple and which at the same time lend attractiveness to the bag, and which has advantages more fully to be pointed out hereinafter. 7

According to the invention, there is provided a flat concealed dummy sealing between the cover and gussets of the bag pocket book, which extends longitudinally of the width of the bag opening, and over the top of the gussets, hugging the same, and which sealing flap automatically closes the bag opening upon the closure of the bag cover,

and likewise automatically opens it upon opening of said bag cover.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved bag.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar fragmentary end elevation but in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevation of a modified form.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view.

Fig. 6 is a closed view of the form shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a closed view of the form shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, a ladys hand bag or pocket book is there shown, in which the front wall It] is provided with snap buttons ll of more or less decorative form, varying according to taste. The rear wall l2 has a closure flap l3 extending upwardly from the rear wall and over the front wall, and has sockets M or other means for cooperating with the snap buttons II, which 45 is adapted to close the open pocket of the bag. Interposed between the front wall l and rear wall l2, are gussets I5, which have flat tops l6, these gussets being secured to the front and rear walls by stitches, and within the front and rear walls and gussets, is formed the open top pocket I1, in which a mirror or smaller coin container may. be suitably placed. A side pocket l8 formed by a wall l9 adjacent the rear wall is also shown. The exterior of wall I2 at the rear is provided with a strap 20 for holding the hand bag.

These parts as just described are not novel, but the novel step taken to accomplish the objects of the invention, is to extend the front wall preferably integrally in a concealing flap 20, to such an extent as to cover the open end of the pocket, when the pocket book is closed. This extension rests upon the upper straight edges of the lateral gussets, and preferably consists of a sealing flap 20a, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, of such a length as to cover the open end of the pocket, when the same is 10 closed, and extends to the front concealing flap 2 1, whereby either one or the other of the concealing flaps overlaps the other. Thus, when the pocket book is closed, the flaps 20a. and 2|, cover the open end thereof, as shown in Fig. 6, and either flap contacts with the upper edges of the gussets, whereas the other fiap is contacted by the closure flap of the pocket book. The concealing flaps extend the width of the bag or pocket book, that is, from lateral gusset to lateral gusset, and parallel with the inner surface of the closure flap of the pocket book.

In the modified form shown in Figure '7, the sealing flaps 22, 23 are made of equal width so that they will be brought in the same place, as 25 shown in Fig. 7, when the pocket is closed and the closing flap I3 is brought into position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 6, there are shown two concealing flaps, one of which overlies the other, and in Fig. 3, one concealing flap. The concealing flaps of Figs. 3 and 4 extend the full width of the bag.

If desired, the front concealing flap can be provided with some material like a whalebone or thin fiat spring or fiber, so as to maintain this concealing flap in bent up position as shown, the advantage of this bent up position being that when the pocket book is entirely open, this bent portion will act as a stay or abutment, to prevent the contents of the pocket from falling out.

The continuous or integral front concealing flap, adds attractiveness to the bag, and at the same time serves the useful purpose of providing an automatic concealing flap which acts to provide a concealing dummy seal, providing a tight gusset closure at the sides of the bag. The short gussets shown in the drawing, have the advantage as against the longer gussets now in commercial use which extend up and beyond the front edge of the bag, in that the longer gussets injure the lining of the cover of the bag, whereas the short gussets do not, but have the disadvantage of permitting the contents of the bag to drop out between the upper edge of the gussets andthe ordinary top closure flap. This objection is entirely overcome by my invention as before described, by providing a concealing fiap or lip interposed between the gussets and closure member and in hugging contact, preferably with both.

In the embodiments, the concealing lips extend from side gusset to side gusset and cover the same, and the lips are in frictional contact with the upper edges of the gussets, and the lip when the pocket book is closed extends from the front wall to the interior side of the rear wall so as to contact therewith, and thereby this concealing flap covers the pocket book opening, when the same is in a position corresponding to the closed position of the pocket book. Hence, there is provided a concealed sealing lip interposed between the gussets and the closure flap and in contact therewith.

In the event a woman should either carry her bag upside down or should throw it carelessly upon a chair, therimproved features would prevent loss of any article falling from the bag.

I have herein shown and described an embodiment of my present invention, which I have found to be very satisfactory in practical use. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the essential features of my present disclosure might also be incorporated in various other alternative mechanical structures, and I therefore reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly incorporated within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A hand bag or pocket book having spaced walls and lateral gussets providing a pocket, a cover flap closure integral with one wall of the pocket and foldable over the open end thereof and into overlapping engagement with the outer side of the other wall for fastening thereto to close the pocket, a sealing lip carried by said one wall on the inner side thereof and having a width less than the width of the pocket when opened to the limit of the gussets, and a second sealing lip integral with the upper edge of the other wall and having a width substantially equal to the width of the first lip, each of said lips adapted to have their free edges overlap each other irrespective of the position of the gussets and each of said lips having a width in excess of half the Width of the pocket when completely open to the limit of the gussets, said cover flap when in overlapping engagement with the other wall maintaining said lips in overlapping relation to seal the pocket when in either completely expanded or partially expanded position.

2. A ladys hand bag or pocket book having spaced walls and lateral gussets providing a pocket, a cover flap closure carried by one wall and foldable across the mouth of the pocket and into overlapping engagement against the outer side of the other Wall for fastening thereto to close the pocket, a sealing lip carried by said one wall on the inner side thereof and having a width less than the width of the pocket when opened to the limit of the gussets, and a second sealing lip integral with the upper edge of the other wall and having a width substantially equal to the width of the first lip, said lips overlapping each other for substantially their full width when the gussets are closed, said cover flap when in overlapping engagement with the other Wall maintaining said lips in overlapping relation when the gussets are substantially closed to seal the pocket.

3. A hand bag or pocket book having spaced walls and lateral gussets providing a pocket, a cover flap closure integral with one wall of the pocket and foldable over the open end thereof and into overlapping engagement with the outer side of the other wall for fastening thereto to close the pocket, a sealing lip carried by said one wall on the inner side thereof and having a width substantially equal to one half of the width of the mouth of the pocket when opened to the limit of the gussets, and a second sealing lip integral with the upper edge of the other wall and having a width substantially equal to the Width of the first lip, the free edges of said lips abutting against each other when the gussets are opened substantially to the limit of their opening, said lips overlapping each other for substantially their full Width when the gussets are closed, said cover fiap when in overlapping engagement with the other wall maintaining said lips with their free ends in abutting relation when the gussets are opened substantially to their limit.

HERBERT RUBIN. 

